noun
- A bone or cartilaginous plate in the ventral part of the pectoral girdle of certain vertebrates, located between or anterior to the clavicles.
Usage: anatomy; zoology; technical
Examples
- The episternum is a prominent feature in the skeletal anatomy of many amphibians and reptiles.
- In frogs, the episternum connects the two clavicles and provides structural support to the pectoral girdle.
- Paleontologists examine the episternum to understand the evolutionary relationships among early tetrapods.
- The episternum varies in shape and size across different species of salamanders.